Rockford ramps up effort to remove ash trees

Friday

Jul 25, 2014 at 4:30 PM

By Kevin HaasRockford Register Star

ROCKFORD — The city is ramping up efforts to remove trees infected by the destructive emerald ash borer.

The metallic green beetle’s presence was confirmed within the city of Rockford by the Department of Agriculture in July 2011, but it takes about three years for outward signs of the bug’s damage to show. It started to show this year as once healthy ash trees gave way to bare canopies and leafless branches.

“It seems like this year is the worst. The ash borer has been here, but now they’re getting ahead of the trees,” said certified arborist Phil Wing, owner of Flying W Tree Service. “All of the sudden — bingo — everything started going.”

Residents that have an ash tree have to act now or risk losing it, Wing said.

“It’s everywhere: We sighted it first in the southeast corner of town. Now it’s everywhere, even up in Rockton and Roscoe,” Wing said. “One by one these trees are going to go unless you do something.”

The city of Rockford has responded to the escalating problem by making plans to remove more ash trees this year. City Council members approved Monday an extra $350,000 expenditure to take down 1,300 more trees, primarily ash. That brings the total number planned for removal this year to about 2,300.

The city will pay $850,000 for tree removal, up from the $500,000 originally budgeted, by dipping into a $4.8 million reserve in its sanitation fund. That fund has also been tapped for $500,000 in demolitions of condemned homes and $375,000 to help prevent a property tax increase. It’s expected to have a $3.6 million balance at the end of the year.

“We can’t wait any longer to start taking these down,” said Mark Stockman, superintendent of street and forestry operations for Rockford. “We don’t really want to see them standing dead for any length of time because of the inherent danger of that scenario.”

Ash trees don’t hold their wood well once they die, Wing said, meaning there’s a danger of falling branches and potential collapses.

The beetle’s larvae feed on the inner bark, known as the cambium layer, and obstruct a tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. It leads to bare branches, brittle bark and eventually, collapse. Evidence of infestation include D-shaped emergence holds left by the borer in the bark, thin and yellow leaves and white markings on the bark of the tree.

“We’re going to lose a lot of nice trees, it’s going to be a shame,” Wing said.

Wing recommends residents purchase insecticide, which can be found at most hardware stores, if they suspect their tree has emerald ash borer. Those that have already had heavy canopy loss should be taken down.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced today that it detected the beetle in Peoria and Tazewell counties in central Illinois. The findings are significant because they were outside the state’s quarantine zone, which were established to try to prevent the spread of the beetle. Quarantined counties — which includes Boone, Winnebago, Ogle and Stephenson counties — are restricted from moving firewood or untreated wood products outside their county of origin.

Kevin Haas: 815-987-1410; khaas@rrstar.com; @KevinMHaas

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.